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INFORMATION REPORT SECY-08-0102 July 11, 2008
Contact: Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International 24th Annual Symposium on Effects of Radiation on Nuclear Materials and the Nuclear Fuel Cycle From June 23 through 25, 2008, NRC staff attended the ASTM International 24th Annual Symposium on Effects of Radiation on Nuclear Materials and the Nuclear Fuel Cycle and provided the opening plenary presentation "Research on Radiation Effects – An NRC Perspective." The symposium was well-attended by national and international experts in the field from industry, research laboratories, academia, and regulatory authorities. Principal topics covered by the presentations included radiation embrittlement of reactor pressure vessel steels and degradation of reactor pressure vessel internals due to the effects of radiation. USA Strategic Teaming and Resource Sharing (STARS) Conference on Air Operated Valves (AOV) From June 23 through 26, 2008, NRC staff attended the USA/STARS conference on AOV. At the meeting, the staff discussed regulatory activities related to in-service testing (IST) and the new NRC acceptance review process as related to IST issues. Major topics presented by the membership at the USA/STARS group meeting included power uprate implementation, AOV operating experience, AOV diagnostics, AOV actuator maintenance, valve trim options, and digital positioners. A portion of the meeting was held at the Newman Hattersley valve facility in Mississauga, Canada, where the vendor provided demonstrations of AOV maintenance and testing activities. Joint International Atomic Energy Agency-Nuclear Energy Agency (IAEA-NEA) Technical Meeting From July 1 through 4, 2008, the NRR staff attended an IAEA-NEA joint technical meeting on the "Revision of the Incident Reporting System (IRS) Guidelines" in Vienna, Austria. This meeting was held to finalize the revision to the guidelines. Office of New Reactors (NRO) Issuance of Review Schedules for the Vogtle Combined License (COL) Application On June 27, 2008, the staff issued the safety and environmental review schedules for Southern Nuclear Operating Company's COL application for Vogtle Units 3 and 4. The safety review schedule is 30 months in duration, and the environmental review schedule is 19.5 months in duration. The completion of the safety review of the Vogtle COL depends on both the Westinghouse AP1000 design certification amendment review and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)/Bellefonte COL review (the TVA COL is the "reference" COL for the design center). Approval of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd, Kobe, Japan Safeguards Information Control Program On June 30, 2008, the staff approved the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), Ltd., Kobe, Japan office to handle and store Safeguards Information (SGI). The MHI review was conducted on June 2, 2008, to verify the adequacy of procedures submitted to NRC by Mitsubishi Nuclear Energy Systems (MNES). The procedures covered the protection program for SGI at various MNES and MHI facilities as described in the Safeguards Information Control Program submitted to the NRC on September 25, 2007. As a result of this review, MHI and MNES may handle and store SGI at the Arlington, VA, Monroeville, PA, and Kobe, Japan facilities. MNES will serve as the primary contact with NRC staff and will also perform oversight activities for the MHI SGI facilities in Japan. This is the first approval of an applicant's (licensee's or vendor's) SGI storage facility located outside of the U.S. Notice of Hearing and Opportunity to Petition for Leave to Intervene - Grand Gulf COL Application On July 1, 2008, a notice was issued in the Federal Register (73 FR 37511) that a hearing will be held at a time and place to be set in the future by the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board regarding the Grand Gulf Unit 3 COL application. This notice informs interested parties of the opportunity to file a written petition for leave to intervene in the license proceedings for the Grand Gulf Unit 3 combined license application. Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs (FSME) NRC Publishes the Governors' Designees Receiving Advance Notification of Transportation of Nuclear Waste On July 1, 2008, the NRC published in the Federal Register (Volume 73, Number 127; pages 37508-37511) the Governors' Designees Receiving Advance Notification of Transportation of Nuclear Waste. Amendments to 10 CFR Parts 71 and 73 (effective July 6, 1982) require advance notification to Governors or their designees by NRC licensees prior to transportation of certain shipments of nuclear waste and spent fuel. The advance notification covered in Part 73 is for spent nuclear reactor fuel shipments and the notification in Part 71 is for large quantity shipments of radioactive waste (and of spent nuclear reactor fuel not covered under the final amendment to 10 CFR Part 73). The published list updates the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of those individuals in each State who are responsible for receiving information on nuclear waste shipments. Current State contact information can also be accessed throughout the year at the Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs external website: http://nrc-stp.ornl.gov/special/designee.pdf Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES) RES Publication of Regulatory Guide (RG) 6.4, "Classification of Containment Properties of Sealed Radioactive Sources" On June 25, 2008, the staff published a RG that identifies the type of information necessary for staff evaluation and verification of sealed radioactive source containment in accordance with 10 CFR Part 32. RG 6.4 is available on the NRC website at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/reg-guides/products/active/. Office of Administration (ADM) Contract Award for Diversity Management Support Services As a result of a competitive acquisition set aside for small businesses, a requirements type Contract No. NRC-27-08-322 for "Diversity Management Support Services" was awarded to HGM Management and Technologies, Inc. The contractor will provide assistance to NRC's diversity management initiative including assisting with agency efforts to enhance individual staff and agency performance. The period of performance for this contract is July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2009, with four additional one year option periods. The total estimated value of this contract is $931,341, including all option periods. Contract Award for P8 Software As a result of a competition under the GSA Federal Supply Schedule, Delivery Order No. NRC‑33-08-191 was awarded to Mainline Information Systems of Tallahassee, Florida on June 30, 2008 for IBM P8 Software. The purchase enables the NRC to complete the agency‑wide upgrade of outdated Content Services software, which serves as the basis for NRC's agency‑wide document management system. The P8 software will allow the NRC to address immediate functional requirements such as automated categorization, profiling of documents, and navigation between the multiple files that comprise licensing applications. The total value of the award is $841,194.82 and delivery will take place within 30 days. Office of Information Services (OIS) Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act (PA) Requests Received During the Period of June 27, 2008 through July 3, 2008:
Office of Human Resources (HR)
Office of Public Affairs (OPA) OPA Received Significant Media Inquiries on the Following: Government Accountability Office Fire Protection report Annual Assessment meeting for Indian Point nuclear power plant (New York); request from Entergy for a change in the Indian Point Updated Final Safety Analysis Report with regard to sump use following an accident Investigation underway regarding potential environmental effects of the plutonium spill at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) lab (Colorado) Problems at the Mixed Oxide facility under construction Browns Ferry nuclear plant (Alabama) uprate Other Public Affairs Items: OPA submitted a rebuttal to the Las Vegas Sun about the Glow Train television program that covered nuclear waste to be shipped to Yucca Mountain, Nevada; NRC emphasized its continuous efforts to ensure safety of these kinds of shipments. OPA responded the to Salt Lake Tribune reporter who mischaracterized a proposal to "downblend" B and C waste by using "untainted" material (South Carolina). OPA supported an interview on what the NRC is doing to help Vietnam put in place a regulatory regime for nuclear power reactors.
Office of the Secretary (SECY)
Federal Register Notices Issued
Region
IV (RIV) Palo Verde Meeting On June 30, 2008, Region IV and the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation staff held a Category 1 public meeting in Tonopah, Arizona with Arizona Public Service Company to discuss the current status of actions being taken by the licensee to addressthe performance areas identified in the Palo Verde Confirmatory Action Letter (CAL). Approximately five members of the public were in attendance. Local radio and newspaper media reported on this meeting. Arkansas Nuclear One Operational Safety Assessment Review Team (OSART) On July 2, 2008, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) OSART conducted a public exit meeting following the team inspection at Arkansas Nuclear One (ANO), Units 1 and 2. The team concluded that the ANO site was properly managed and maintained. The OSART will provide their draft report to the NRC for review. Diablo Canyon Public Meetings On July 2, 2008, Region IV management and staff held two public meetings pertaining to Diablo Canyon Power Plant. The first meeting was with representatives of Pacific Gas and Electric Company to discuss the annual assessment of the Diablo Canyon Power Plant for 2007. The meeting was attended by about 30 people, including county and State officials, as well as members of the interest group Mothers For Peace. No media was present. The second meeting was with members of the public in a town hall type forum to provide members of the community an opportunity to ask questions and provide comments to the NRC staff on issues regarding the Diablo Canyon Power Plant. The meeting was attended by about 75 people, including several local officials. Members of the interest groups Mothers For Peace and the Alliance For Nuclear Responsibility also attended. Most of the public's interest dealt with the licensee's planned Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI). Discussions were limited on this topic due to ongoing Commission review of the information provided during the July 1, hearings associated with the environmental evaluation of the ISFSI. Local television media covered this meeting. Office of the Executive Director for Operations (EDO) Letter to Ms. Nguyen Regarding Petition for Rulemaking On July 3, 2008, the Acting Executive Director for Operations (EDO) signed a letter to Ms. Hanht Nguyen regarding an e-mail she submitted dated April 23, 2008, requesting that the NRC amend the regulations that govern emergency planning for nuclear power facilities. Ms. Nguyen requested that residential builders be required to inform potential homebuyers that new residences being constructed are within the 10-mile emergency planning zone of a commercial nuclear power plant. The staff has reviewed the email and has determined that this request does not meet the Commission's criteria under 10 CFR 2.802(c)(1) for a petition for rulemaking. The NRC's emergency preparedness regulations are located in 10 CFR 50.47 and in Appendix E to 10 CFR Part 50. The NRC does not have direct regulatory authority over entities conducting activities with no nexus to the public's radiological health and safety or common defense and security, such as residential homebuilders or sellers. This action constitutes notice to the Commission that, in accordance with the rulemaking authority delegated to the EDO, the acting EDO has signed this letter informing Ms. Nguyen of the NRC's response. This action does not constitute a significant question of policy, nor would it amend regulations contained in 10 CFR Parts 7, 8, or 9, Subpart C, concerning matters of policy. The letter to Ms. Nguyen can be found in the Agencywide Documents Access and Management System at ML081560223. Office of Congressional Affairs (OCA)
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